Is Kinshasa tightening the screws on Brussels? A circular dated October 15, 2026, and signed by Anthony Nkinzo Kamole, Chief of Staff to President Félix Tshisekedi, prohibits members of the presidential staff from having any direct or indirect contact with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The decision comes amid reports of searches conducted by Belgian police at several residences linked to members of the Congolese president’s family and associates. The timing raises questions about relations between Kinshasa and Brussels.
A formal ban until further notice
In Circular Note No. 26/004, dated October 15, 2026, the president’s chief of staff instructs deputy chiefs of staff, special advisers, coordinators of specialized services, principal advisers and other members of the presidential staff to refrain from contacting the Belgian diplomatic mission.
“Effective immediately, all members of the Office of the President of the Republic are instructed, in the performance of their duties, to refrain, until further notice, from any direct or indirect contact with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as with its diplomatic and administrative staff,” the document states.
However, the measure provides an exception for duly justified cases of necessity. Any approach or communication must first be authorized and conducted exclusively through the official channel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The chief of staff also warns that anyone who violates the instruction will face appropriate administrative and disciplinary sanctions.
Belgian raids at the center of growing questions
The decision comes at a particularly sensitive time. On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, searches were reportedly carried out in Brussels and several municipalities in Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant as part of a judicial investigation into suspected money laundering.
According to reports published by international media, the operations involved residences linked to members of President Félix Tshisekedi’s family and associates. The investigation reportedly follows complaints filed in July 2025 by non-governmental organizations concerning alleged irregularities linked to the exploitation of mineral resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office confirmed the searches while emphasizing the need to protect the confidentiality of the investigation and the presumption of innocence. The searches alone do not constitute proof of wrongdoing by the individuals concerned.
Is Kinshasa’s decision linked to the Belgian investigation?
The connection between the searches and the circular is difficult to overlook. The events occurred just one day apart, on October 14 and 15, prompting questions about why the Congolese presidency decided to impose such restrictions on its staff.
Could the decision be a diplomatic precaution in response to developments in Belgium’s judicial investigation? Is it an attempt to centralize communications with Brussels amid growing tensions? Or does it represent a political response to legal proceedings involving the president’s family circle?
At this stage, none of these explanations can be presented as confirmed. The circular makes no reference to the searches or the Belgian judicial investigation as grounds for the ban.
Nevertheless, the timing is an important element of the broader context surrounding relations between the two countries.
Kinshasa–Brussels relations: A diplomatic chill ahead?
By requiring official communications with the Belgian embassy to go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the presidency is imposing tighter control over exchanges between its staff and Belgian diplomats.
However, this administrative measure should not be confused with a diplomatic break. The document does not order the closure of Belgium’s embassy in Kinshasa or the expulsion of Belgian diplomats. It specifically applies to members of the presidential staff in the performance of their official duties.
The political implications of the instruction will depend, among other factors, on how it is implemented and whether the Congolese authorities provide further explanations.
A case that calls for clarification
As Belgian authorities continue their investigation, the circular signed by Anthony Nkinzo Kamole opens a new chapter of questions about relations between Kinshasa and Brussels.
The central question remains: What is the real reason behind the ban? The timing has fueled speculation, but nothing in the publicly available text of the circular establishes that the two events are directly connected.
An official clarification from the Congolese presidency would help explain the reasons for the measure and establish whether it is solely an administrative disciplinary instruction or part of a broader diplomatic context.
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